Ash Bridge
Established Member
Good Afternoon All,
This is a Journey I have many years experience of but previously we've always travelled on Saturdays. This year we are heading off for our annual holiday to North Cornwall on a Friday in July. Favoured train has usually been the 08:16 direct XC service off Stockport but not surprisingly on a weekday the cost of a 1st class ticket on this service is eye wateringly expensive compared to what we are accustomed to paying for weekend travel. Therefore I'm looking at other far cheaper options the first one being the 09:35 XC Voyager off Stockport changing at Birmingham into the 11:17 XC HST to Exeter St. Davids. Having never performed a change at New Street for many years I'm wondering if this is an easy option bearing in mind we will have luggage and two 80 year old ladies (mum & auntie)also travelling with us, can anyone advise if this train is likely to be exceptionally busy with scrum like conditions on boarding?
My other option is via London, Stockport Dep. 07:43 Virgin service to Euston then Paddington Dep. 11:03 for Exeter. I'm sure there would be no problems on the Pendolino but rather uncertain about the GWR HST onwards to the South West having read many tales about overcrowding on this route, or would we be better just biting the bullet sticking with the 08:15 direct XC and pay the 3 figure ticket price? Any advice would be most gratefully received
This is a Journey I have many years experience of but previously we've always travelled on Saturdays. This year we are heading off for our annual holiday to North Cornwall on a Friday in July. Favoured train has usually been the 08:16 direct XC service off Stockport but not surprisingly on a weekday the cost of a 1st class ticket on this service is eye wateringly expensive compared to what we are accustomed to paying for weekend travel. Therefore I'm looking at other far cheaper options the first one being the 09:35 XC Voyager off Stockport changing at Birmingham into the 11:17 XC HST to Exeter St. Davids. Having never performed a change at New Street for many years I'm wondering if this is an easy option bearing in mind we will have luggage and two 80 year old ladies (mum & auntie)also travelling with us, can anyone advise if this train is likely to be exceptionally busy with scrum like conditions on boarding?
My other option is via London, Stockport Dep. 07:43 Virgin service to Euston then Paddington Dep. 11:03 for Exeter. I'm sure there would be no problems on the Pendolino but rather uncertain about the GWR HST onwards to the South West having read many tales about overcrowding on this route, or would we be better just biting the bullet sticking with the 08:15 direct XC and pay the 3 figure ticket price? Any advice would be most gratefully received
